THE CONQUEST OF HYDROPHOBIA 221 



lacking in opposition and hostile criticism. Part 

 of this came from certain reactionary members of 

 the Academy of Medicine, but they were becoming 

 less numerous, and Pasteur's cause was defended 

 by an increasing number of the most influential 

 members of this organization. Rabid newspaper 

 attacks, and insulting anonymous letters, disturbed 

 Pasteur more than he should have allowed them to, 

 because he was always easily stirred by opposition. 

 "I did not know that I had so many enemies," he 

 said; but if he had enemies, he soon had on his 

 side the almost unanimous support of competent 

 scientific men. 



Among Pasteur's antagonists there were several 

 people who were opposed to any form of experi- 

 mentation that involved the infliction of pain upon 

 dumb animals. There are many persons who have 

 the same attitude to-day. The claim is frequently 

 made that it is morally wrong, for any purpose, to 

 inflict suffering on a defenseless creature, and it is 

 maintained, by some extremists, that no results of 

 value to science or humanity have come from such 

 procedures. There are organizations in several 

 countries whose object it is to secure legislation 

 that would greatly restrict or entirely prevent ex- 

 periments involving vivisection, even when pain- 



